FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. and LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. — DealerTrack Aftermarket Services Inc., a subsidiary of DealerTrack Holdings Inc., has been selected as the exclusive technology platform to support sales of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (MBFS) USA’s comprehensive line of Mercedes-Benz-branded vehicle protection products.

Since 2006, MBFS has been responding to the needs of its dealers and their customers by creating and executing an aftermarket product offensive of six vehicle protection products that are branded MBFS and guaranteed to use genuine Mercedes-Benz parts installed by Mercedes-Benz-trained technicians when repairs are needed.

In creating these products which protect a customer's investment and provides peace of mind, MBFS has partnered with best-in-class aftermarket product insurance underwriters who administer contracts and claims in addition to functioning as the back-office support for contract administration.

Now, to streamline this process and make the sale of these products easier for dealers and their customers, MBFS and DealerTrack Aftermarket Services, Inc., are in the process of signing up approximately 25 dealers for a pilot phase before a national rollout to all 355 Mercedes-Benz dealerships, targeted for March 1, 2011.

Safe-Guard Products International, Zurich, and Advantage Product Pipeline are the three underwriters of the MBFS vehicle protection products. Now all three companies will present rates to and accept electronic contracts from dealers through DealerTrack Aftermarket Network.

"The teaming up of our underwriters with DealerTrack is a great way for our dealers and their customers to benefit from DealerTrack's solution by streamlining the communication process with our underwriters and increasing customer satisfaction with the aftermarket selling experience," said Christopher Weinig, general manager of insurance for Mercedes-Benz Financial Services.

DealerTrack's fully-automated and paperless workflow solution will streamline the selling process for Mercedes-Benz dealers by providing access to real-time rates, menu presentation tools and electronic contract submissions with preferred providers.

"This process will enable Mercedes-Benz dealers to reduce contract errors, increase customer satisfaction index (CSI) scores and provide customers with complete legal disclosures to meet compliance requirements," said Raj Sundaram, senior vice president of the solutions and services group at DealerTrack.

MBFS full line of aftermarket vehicle protection products and the years they were introduced include:

2010:

First Class Lease Protection

First Class Interior and Exterior

2009:

First Class Guaranteed Auto Protection (originally introduced in 2006)

2008:

First Class Wheel and Tire Protection Plus (originally introduced in 2006)

First Class Paintless Dent Repair

First Class Windshield Protection

Representatives from MBFS and DealerTrack will be demonstrating the fully automated process at the 2011 NADA Convention and Expo in San Francisco from February 5-7 in the DealerTrack booth No. 727 S.